The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has taken a formal step toward enabling the certification of marine engines designed to run on ammonia and hydrogen, agreeing draft amendments to the NOx Technical Code at its 13th Pollution Prevention and Response Sub-Committee session (PPR 13) in London, February 9–13.
The agreed amendments expand the certification methodology to include hydrogen- and oxygen-balance methods alongside the existing carbon-balance approach. In practical terms, this creates a compliance pathway for engine manufacturers and shipowners pursuing alternative-fuel projects that the current code does not accommodate.
The amendments will be submitted to MEPC 84 in April for consideration, with adoption targeted at MEPC 85 in November 2026.
What this means for procurement and operations
Until now, the absence of a certification framework for non-carbon fuels has been a structural barrier to commercial deployment of ammonia- and hydrogen-fuelled engines. These amendments, once adopted, would remove one regulatory obstacle — though the broader supply, bunkering infrastructure, and safety frameworks for these fuels remain at an early stage across most regions, including the Middle East.
Procurement professionals and fleet managers planning alternative-fuel transitions should note that regulatory certification is one element within a wider set of requirements. Supply availability, fuel handling procedures, crew competency, and port-level infrastructure will all factor into practical deployment timelines.
Ammonia effluent: an unresolved operational question
PPR 13 also reviewed early‑stage work on managing ammonia effluent from ammonia‑fuelled vessels and invited further submissions to PPR 14 in 2027. Delegates agreed that further data is needed before any policy position is taken. The debate reflects a wider tension in the space: some flag states, including South Korea, have flagged operational concerns around a full discharge ban, while NGOs have pressed for complete prohibition.
This remains an open regulatory question with direct implications for how ammonia-fuelled vessels will be managed in port — including in Middle Eastern terminals where environmental discharge controls vary by jurisdiction.
Additional PPR 13 outcomes
The session also progressed work on a polar fuel concept aimed at reducing black carbon emissions in Arctic waters, with a polar fuel standard identified as a possible initial measure.
Other agreed measures included requirements for pressure/vacuum valve installation on new crude oil tankers to limit VOC emissions, revisions to oily bilge water dewatering procedures, and continued development of a future legally binding framework on biofouling management.
This article is based on publicly available reporting. Gulf Bunkering provides independent market context and regional information related to marine fuel procurement in the Middle East. We do not provide regulatory, legal, or compliance advice.
